Pacific hopes freshman's stellar play continues

STOCKTON - Beckett Brennan sat on the bench for the first nine weeks of the season, quietly waiting for her shot. When the opportunity finally arrived, Brennan was ready.

Jason Anderson

STOCKTON - Beckett Brennan sat on the bench for the first nine weeks of the season, quietly waiting for her shot. When the opportunity finally arrived, Brennan was ready.

The freshman guard averaged 11.6 points while shooting 60 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from 3-point range over the past three games. Pacific women's basketball coach Lynne Roberts is hoping for more of the same when the Tigers (7-11, 2-3 Big West Conference) play Cal Poly (7-11, 4-1) at 7 p.m. today at Spanos Center.

"That's why we recruited her," Roberts said. "She has a good shot, and she's just fearless with it. She doesn't ever think she's going to miss, and that's what you want from your shooters."

Brennan teamed with fellow Pacific freshman Andrea Swanson to lead Littleton High School to the 5A Colorado State Elite 8 in 2006 and the Sweet 16 in 2005. Brennan broke the single-season state record with 82 3-point goals in 2005 and finished second all-time in Colorado with 226 career 3-pointers.

Brennan appeared in only two of Pacific's first 15 games while working in practice to improve her defense. She played seven minutes in a 79-73 victory over Cal State Northridge, scoring nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range. She scored 17 points in a 69-59 victory over UC Irvine last week, helping the Tigers snap a 24-game road losing streak in the Big West.

"That was awesome," Brennan said. "That was a huge relief and a big confidence booster for everybody."

Brennan said adjusting to the college game has been a big challenge, but she's beginning to feel more comfortable.

"It took me a while to figure it out because high school basketball is nowhere near the intensity of college basketball," Brennan said. "I still have a lot to learn and I'm still adjusting, but it's definitely coming easier and I have a lot more confidence."